Self-realisation catapults Tigers to win!

Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal plays a reverse sweep during the fifth and final day of their second Test against Sri Lanka at the P Sara Oval Cricket Stadium in Colombo on Sunday. — AFP photo

After winning the historic 100th Test Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahman said on Sunday that for him the most pleasing thing was their realisation of the value of every single run in a Test match.Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka in the second match by four wickets at P Sara Oval successfully chasing down a target of 191 runs on the fifth and final day to level the two-match series 1-1.This is only Tigers’ ninth win and first against the Sri Lanka, whom they faced highest 18 matches.Mushfiq led Bangladesh in six of their nine wins and going from his experience through their thick and thin he said that players’ self-realisation finally helped them to pull off a win in crunch situation. ‘What made me happy was how we understood the value of the match even when we were ahead or behind in the game,’ said a satisfied Mushfiq after the match. ‘We tried to understand the value of a run, a misfield. Giving away runs in the first innings may not seem much at that time, but it comes back to hurt you at the end of the day,’ he added.Bangladesh had some testing moments in the match as they lost three quick wickets in the space of seven balls on second evening and Sri Lankan tail-enders frustrated them adding more than hundred runs in last three-wickets both the innings.But Bangladesh batsmen kept their composure, the bowlers kept their patience to constantly bowl in the right spots and fielders did not spill any major chance, a common mistakes they did in some recent matches, to bring a happy ending.‘We tried to recognise these small things. Fact that we realised each and every bit of it was quite impressive. The batsmen and bowlers played with responsibility, which made it a happy moment,’ said Mushfiq. Bangladesh were set for a tricky 191 in the final day and though Tamim Iqbal and Sabbir Rahman added 109 runs in the third wicket it was Mushfiq, who stayed in the wicket till the end. ‘I have never faced such a situation in Test cricket. It is new for us to chase in this type of wicket on a fifth day. We needed a 50-plus opening stand, but Tamim and Sabbir really made it easy for us with their 100-plus stand. ‘But no opposition would let us have it easy. We had the belief in the end stages, though unfortunately, we lost Sakib. We had Mosaddek and Miraz, and we thought we could do it in singles.’ The skipper said he felt nervous just like millions of fans when he was given out leg before off Dilruwan Perera but he sought a review and the decision was overturned, the 10th overturn of the match. ‘I was a bit nervous when he had given me out, and was a bit wary of taking the review as it may have been needed for latter batsmen. But it went well for us, and we got a lot of out this game.’But Mushfiq thought it was hard for umpires to function without adequate technology and he pleaded to ICC for provide all sorts of technology to conduct Tests smoothly. ‘There was no hot spot or snickometer, so it was hard to comment on the DRS in this situation. I would like to request to the ICC to keep all the technologies available if there is DRS. ‘If we can play according to the spirit of the cricket in that case the work for the third umpire also becomes easier.’Man of the series, Sakib al Hasan, who scored a century in the first innings and ended with a match figure of 6-154, said to be able to perform for the team was a great deal for him.‘I always try to do something for the team. I think I am also a bit lucky, to perform in such games for the team. It is a big deal for me to have an influential performance for the team,’ said Sakib, who grabbed his fourth man of the series award on Sunday.